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The regulatory body, the General Optical Council, has confirmed that registration fees for the period 2012 to 2013 will be cut by £10 for optical professionals. The new fees will affect all registrations other than those of students, whose fees will remain unchanged.
- Optometrists and opticians:
Previously £270/year Now £260/year - Low income earners:
Previously £170/year Now £160/year - Students:
Unchanged at £20/year
The GOC were pleased to announce the cuts to its registration fees due to what the council had described as an increase in efficiency during the past year, which it is happy to pass on to its members despite expectations that fees would actually increase during the year period of 2012. The council cites areas such as the following, for its ability to amend costs:
- Absorbtion of Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence fee
- Fitness to Practise hearings and legal fees reduction
- A lowering of consultancy spending
- Publishing of annual report online to reduce costs
The GOC was also pleased to confirm that the new low income fee had been a resounding success and had been met favorably in its first year following calls for its introduction. The General Optical Council confirms that it no longer has to field such calls due to its warm welcome.